1
as in to be
to take or have a certain position within a group arranged in vertical classes
my favorite pitcher ranks first in the league for number of consecutive outs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to classify
to arrange or assign according to type
most critics would rank him among our best actors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in ranking
the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement
attained the highest rank in the Freemasons
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in dignity
high position within society
remembered as a woman of rank who socialized only with other members of the elite
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
4
as in category
usually ranks plural
one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic
this book will someday join the ranks of the world's great novels
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in rampant
growing thickly and vigorously
covered with trumpet vines so rank you couldn't see the trellis beneath them
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ripe
having an unpleasant smell
smokes rank cigars that usually send me running for fresh air
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in obvious
very noticeable especially for being incorrect or bad
the article about fairy tales was full of rank errors, such as a reference to "Cinderella biting into the poisoned apple"
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in absolute
having no exceptions or restrictions
a sidewalk sale of art works by rank amateurs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of rank
Letters To The Editor, Hartford Courant, 15 Feb. 2026
Multiple high-ranking agents were still reeling Saturday over Wasserman’s decision to divest in his company.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 15 Feb. 2026
Aria Bendix, NBC news, 15 Feb. 2026
The community patrols, meanwhile, are seeing not only more volunteers but also more frequent reports and confirmed sightings of ICE activity as their ranks swell and as enforcement has ramped up.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 20 Nov. 2025
His Philly teams have never finished worse than 14th in total yardage, yet currently rank 23rd.
—Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 13 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rank
Verb
Davidson had been ranked #1 in the country for weeks.
—Letters To The Editor, Hartford Courant, 15 Feb. 2026
Multiple high-ranking agents were still reeling Saturday over Wasserman’s decision to divest in his company.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 15 Feb. 2026
Noun
But the agency now faces a growing vacuum in leadership in its top ranks — one that offers the administration a highly unusual opportunity to reshape NIH to its vision.
—Aria Bendix, NBC news, 15 Feb. 2026
The community patrols, meanwhile, are seeing not only more volunteers but also more frequent reports and confirmed sightings of ICE activity as their ranks swell and as enforcement has ramped up.
—Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Last year a rank Angus cow, unbranded, unclaimed, and unpredictable as a prairie fire, holed up in the slough.
—Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 20 Nov. 2025
His Philly teams have never finished worse than 14th in total yardage, yet currently rank 23rd.
—Jacob Robinson, New York Times, 13 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rank
Verb
-
There were a half-dozen legitimate ninth-inning arms on the market, and the Giants landed zero.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
In this week’s show, there were slinky fabrics and macho outerwear, and scraps of fur over jersey dresses clinging to terrific asses of all sizes.—
Rachel Tashjian,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The case is the first time the Justice Department has attempted to classify critical speech from prominent Trump detractors as a crime.—
Jeremy Roebuck,
Washington Post,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Commercial prediction markets have resisted efforts by states to classify and regulate them as gambling companies, insisting that they — like their precursor in Iowa — should be overseen by federal regulators.—
Suzy Khimm,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Jets’ ranking fell from 21st in 2023 to 29th in 2024.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The highest ranking of those, Hepp, was accused of not ensuring staff members were properly trained on the prison's policies and procedures – including documenting when a resident's water is turned off and meals are missed.—
Kelli Arseneau,
jsonline.com,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The story of slavery and its abolition is ultimately one of irrepressible human dignity.—
Thomas Chatterton Williams,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026
-
But speaking of treating all patients with dignity, Roxie is having a tough time dealing with her current situation.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
In the fluorescent glare of a rundown Indonesian wig factory, vats of human hair simmer in huge cauldrons, stirred by hunched laborers as rows of mannequin heads watch blankly from the dark.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The overhead bins were full for several rows, forcing him and many other passengers to roam around the plane looking for spots as more people filed in.—
Hannah Sampson,
Washington Post,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Another category that would likely unnerve boards of directors, according to Minow, is close ties with Epstein following his controversial 2008 guilty plea to procuring a minor for prostitution.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
-
His floor is described as very high due to every-day playing time, a solid lineup role and no glaring category weaknesses.—
Derek VanRiper,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The City of Los Angeles has hired a firm to help relight the 6th Street Bridge, which has fallen victim to rampant copper theft in recent months, before the 2028 Summer Olympics head to town.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Cancers linked to these forever chemicals are rampant here.—
Dylan Jackson,
AJC.com,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The snowpack the skiers had been travelling on had a weak layer that had been loaded up with snow, making conditions ripe for an avalanche, according to Chris Feutrier, USDA forest supervisor for the Tahoe National Forest.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The National Weather Service on Wednesday issued a red flag warning, meaning that as the afternoon moved forward conditions would be very dry and windy, making the area ripe for brush fire spread.—
Deanese Williams-Harris,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rank. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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